Street-car sign.



No. 738,430. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903 J. J. GILL. v STREET GAR SIGN.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 14. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. GILL, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STREET-CAR SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,430, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed March 1 1, 1903. Serial No. 147,729. (,No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. GILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Street-Car Sign, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of streetcar signs which are combined with operating connections for turning the signs from the inside of the cars.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a strong, inexpensive, compact, and efiicient operating mechanism for street-car signs of this class which will occupy comparatively little room and which will furnish means for accurately turning and locking the street-car signs in different adjusted positions.

To these ends this invention consists of the street-car sign and of the combinations of parts therewith, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of suificient parts of a street-car sign to illustrate the application of my invention-thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the detachable connection between the body portion of the sign and the sprocket-wheel for turning the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the connection between one end of the sign and its sprocket-wheel.

The operating connections for turning a street-car sign constructed according to my invention comprises a sprocket wheel and chain. These parts are preferably inclosed within one of the end brackets. down through the car-roof and connected at its upper end to the chain is an operating-rod which may be pulled down to different positions. The rod is preferably provided with means for locking the parts. The body portion of the sign is of the ordinary form, having a number of faces which may be successively exposed to view, and in order that the signs may be readily changed I preferably employ a detachable connection between the body portion of the sign and its sprocketwheel.

In the accompanying drawings I have illus- Extending trated my invention applied to one of the side signs located along the roof of the street-car. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is equally applicable to the signs at the end of the car.

Referring to the drawings for a detail description of the parts, A designates the body of an ordinary street-car having the ordinary rounded or so termed monitor roof. Mounted along the side of the car-roof is the ordinary sign 10, having a number of faces which may be successively exposed to view. In the present instance the sign is of a square cross-section, although, if desired, a threesided or difierent number of faced construction may be employed. The body portion of the sign lOis supported at one endinabracket 11, and the operating connections are prefer ably housed within this bracket.

As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2, the operating connections comprise a sprocketwheel, running on which is a chain 13, which passes around a guiding-wheel 14. The j ournals of the guiding-wheel 14 are preferably adjusted in the bracket to keep the required tension on the chain 13. Connected to the chain 13 and extending down to the inside of the car is an operating-rod 15. The operating-rod 15 is provided at its lower end with a handle 16 and also preferably has a springpressed locking-lever 17, carrying a pin 18, which can be set into engagement with any one of the number of recesses in a guideboard 19. The guide-board 19 is provided at its upper end with a bracket or guide 20 for the operating-rod 15.

In order to allow the ready renewal or replacement of different signs, the stud of the sprocket-wheel 12, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3, is provided with a square section 21 for engaginga corresponding socket in a faceplate 22 at the end of the body portion. of the sign 10.

By means of this construction a street-car sign can be turned or shifted from the inside of the car. The index on the guide-board cooperating with the operating-rod will show plainly what face of the sign is being exposed,

and the spring-pressed locking lever and pin will serve to hold the parts in place, so that the sign will not be liable to be tilted or misplaced.

I am aware that changes may be made in practicing my invention by those who are skilled in the art without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claim. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the particular construction I have herein shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Unit-ed States, is

In a construction of the class described, the combination of a sign, a bracket at one end of the sign, operating connections housed within the bracket comprising a sprocket wheel and chain, said sprocket-wheel having a square-ended stud engaging a correspondmy hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. GILL. Witnesses:

LoUIs W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W.'SOUTHGATE. 

